Mail-bag



(No Model.)

J.HANAUER.

MAIL BAG.

No. 459,631. Patented Sept. 15, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HANAUER, OF SPOKANE FALLS, \VASI-IINGTON.

MAI L-BAG;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,631, dated September 15, 1891.

Application filed August 19, 1891. Serial No. 403,093. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HANAUER, of Spokane Falls, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to improve the fastening devices for mail-bags, whereby the bag is rendered dust and water proof; and it consists in the several details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a closed mail-bag embody ing my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan showing the bag open. Fig. 3 is a section on the line at a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a similar section illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the frame. Figs. (3 and 7 show details of the locking device.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures.

A represents the leather bag.

B, B, B and B are side plates hinged together at Z), b, 5 and b to form, when the bag is open, a quadrangular frame, to which the open end or mouth of the bag is attached by rivets ct orother suitable fastening devices. WVhen the bag is closed, the plates B and 13 and B and B respectively, will form two straight sides. The plates B and B are somewhat longer than those B and B whereby when the bag is closed the joints at the hinges b and b will not be opposite each other, and consequently the frame will not be materially weakened or more liable to bend atthese points. The plates B and L are provided with top plates or flanges O and 0, adapted when the bag is closed to overlap the top edges of the side plates B and B and to form a close joint therewith. The several hinges are riveted to the side plates, the two end hinges Z) and 19 having preferably top flanges a a overlapping the top surface of the side plates to give additional strength. The hinge b has no top flange; but the hinge b has a flange G which when the bag is closed extends across the top surface of the plates and overlaps the top edge of the hinge b.

D is a pin which passes through the flange C and also through a lug E, projecting inwardly from the hinge 17 as shown in Fig. 6. The flange C and lug E form. bearings for the pin D, in which it is adapted to turn. At-its upper end the pin is provided with a suitable thumb-piece D and at its lower end, below the lug E, with a hook F. Between the under surface of the flange C and the upper surface of the lug E a coiled spring G surrounds the pin D, one end of the spring being fastened to the pin and the other end to either the lug or the flange. The outer surface of the hook is rounded or beveled, as shown at f. To the inner surface of the hinge b a hook H is rigidly attached, with which the hook F is adapted to interlock when the bag is closed. The outer surface of the hook H is also beveled at h, as shown in Fig. 5. The normal tendency of the spring G is to keep the two hooks in engagement when the bag is closed, and the beveled outer surfaces of the two hooks permit them to automatically engage each other when pressure is applied to force the side plates together. When it is desired to open the bag, pressure applied to the thumb-piece D will cause the pin D to turn against the force of the spring G and swing the hook F out of engagement with the hook H.

J is a staple rigidly secured to the flange C and extending over the thumb-piece D. The staple J and thumb-piece D are so arranged relatively to each other that the thumb-piece when in its normal position will extend obliquely across the open space between the two posts of the staple, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The pin D, to which the thumb-piece D is attached, is located close to and inside one of the posts of the staple, and a space is left between the other post and the thumb-piece sufficient to enable the link-7c of the padlock K to be inserted. When the link it is in position, it serves to prevent movement of the thumb-piece D, and consequently the bag cannot be opened.

L represents a tag-holder secured to one of the flanges O O, and which may be of any approved construction.

I will 110w describe the manner of forming the side plates, which constitutes one of the most essential features of my invention. Each side plate consists of an interior strip 5 of metal 971. and an outer covering of vulcanized rubber m. In the case of the flanged side plates a strip of metal is employed both for the plate and its flange, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Preferably for this purpose one strip of metal bent lengthwise at right angles is used; but it is obvious that two separate st ips of metal might be used with good results. I also prefer to corrugat-e the metal lengthwise, as shown in Fig. 3, as the strip may thus be thinner and still possess the necessary strength. In Fig. 4 Ihave shown the metal strips not corrugated, andI do not limit myself specially to the use of either construction as both maybe used with.

good results.

Many advantages arise from the use of a frame constructed in accordance with my invention. The metal strips incased in rubber will give the frame when closed a certain degree of elasticity and yet make the sides sufficiently rigid to withstand any ordinary attempt to force the sack open. The overlapping flanges G O and the top edges of the plates overlapped will also yield to a certain 0 degree on account of the elasticity of the rubber, and a very close joint can therefore be formed between them. The locking device is also simple, inexpensive, and secure and may be easily and quickly operated.

lilaving described my invention, I claim 1. In a mail-bag, a frame attached to the mouth of the bag and consisting of a series of side plates hinged together, each plate composed of a strip of metal inclosed in vulcan- 4o ized rubber, substantially as described.

2. In a mailbag, a frame attached to the mouth of the bag and consisting of a series of side plates hinged together, each plate composed of a strip of corrugated metal inclosed in vulcanized rubber, substantially as described.

3. In a mail-bag, a frame attached to the mouth of the bag and consisting of four side plates hinged together, two of said plates having top flanges adapted to overlap the top edges of the other two plates, each side plate and flange being composed of a strip of metal inclosed in vulcanized rubber, substantially as described.

I. In a mail-bag, a frame attached to the mouth of the bag and consisting of side plates hinged together, combined with a locking device consisting of a rotating hook mounted on one side, a fixed hook on the opposite side, the two hooks being located within the bag and adapted to interlock when the bag is closed, and a spring to hold the hooks in engagement, substantially as described.

5. In a mail-bag, a frame attached to the mouth of thebag and consisting of side plates hinged together, combined with a locking device consisting of a hook carried by a pin rotating in bearings on one of the sides, a fixed hook on the opposite side, the two hooks being located within the bag and adapted to interlock when the bag is closed, a spring to hold the hooks in engagement,athumb-piece at the upper end of the rotating pin outside the bag, a staple rigidly secured to the side and extending over the thu mb-piece obliquely thereto, and a device inserted between the thu nib-piece and one post of the staple to prevent turning of the rotating pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

Witnesses:

3r. M. FINLEY, E. Cruise. 

